Hydrovehicle.



C. R. BAKERk HYDROVEHICLE.

APPucATxoN FILED Aua.5 ma.

Patented Feb. ll, 1919.

Zz Jig.

CQROL R. BAKER, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

nYDnovEHIcLE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

I? Application led August 5, 1918. Serial No. 248,373.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CoRoL R. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and tate of Tennessee, formerly of Akron, Summit county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrovebicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicles of the water velocipede type adapted particularly for use in water-sports, and it has for its objects, the provision of a vehicle of this character capable of .sustaining itself in operative position in the water, and being easily propelled by foot-power, provision being made for guiding the vehicle whereby it may be abruptly turned or caused to revolve in an area substantially within the longitudinal dimensions of the vehicle. Another object is to .provide a simple, durable and economical construction that is capable of carrying out the desired functions. Other objects and advantages will be apparent, and the construction and novel features of the invention will be fully described hereinafter, and defined in the appended claims, in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, and in which similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of the improved machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation; and Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is an outline plan of a modified float member.

In carrying out the present invention, in the embodiment 4as shown, a frame is employed, said frame being,similar to an ordinary bicycle tubular frame, which includes a triangular construction made up of a horizontal top bar 1 and depending bars 2 and 3, a gear case 4f being supported by said frame at Ithe apex of the angle formed by members 2 and 3. A depending frame member 5 having a journal box 6 at its lower terminal provides a rear support for a propeller shaft 7, said shaft having a bearing in the member 6 and in a journal 8 on the gear case 4. The shaft 7 carries a propeller 9, and is driven by a bevel gear 10 in mesh with a pinion 11 on the shaft 7. The gear 10 is operated by foot power through the medium of cranks 12 provided with pedals 13. A saddle 14 is attached to the frame, and a head member 15 provides a bearing for a steering fork 16 having a handle-bar 17 attached thereto.

The description thus far is applicable to the construction of an ordinary chainless bicycle with the wheels eliminated, andl the propeller member 9 attached. Thisy construction forms a suitable economical frame for the vehicle.

Rigidly attached to the frame member 1, by any suitable means, as for example, band-s 18, are tubular Heats or pontoons 19. These loats are counterparts and are located on opposite sides of the frame, extending longltudinally parallel, andI impart buoyancy to the vehicle. While the twin floats 19 are considered preferable, a unitary float structure similar to 25, Fig. 4, may be used, and it will be understood that said unitary float is the equivalent of the combined Ipontoons 19.

The ends of the floats are preferably of conical formation, as shown at 19", to lessen the resistance of the water, or provide against the retardation of the vehicle in its progress.

For convenience in operating, it is preferable to contract the lateral dimensions of the floats for a predetermined longitudinal distance under the saddle, as shown at 19, thereby providing leg clearance for the operator. It is also desirable for obvious reasons of stability to incase the twin floats with thin sheet members 2O and 2l.

An important feature of the present invention is |the covering or incasing of the triangle portion of the frame, and in the embodiment as illustrated, a sheet metal member 22 is employed for this purpose. The member 22 is tted, or turned over and around the frame members 2 and 3, being riveted or otherwise made fast. The upper edge of member 22 may be iush with the under line of frame member 1 or it may be attached to said frame member in like manner to its attachment to members 2 and 3. This forms a ller for the triangular portion of the frame which depends between the floats 19, and co-acting wii said floats performs a similar function to that of a centerboard in a sail-boat, stabilizing or maintaining the upright position of the vehicle in the water.

Another salient factor of the invention is the steering means, which responds quickly, or whereby the vehicle can be abruptly turned. With this feature in view, a rearunited along their rear* edges, however a single rudder blade made of nonLflexible p-late may bev rigidly attachedto ther steering member andperforin the desired guidi ing function. Vith a.I trailing rudder of this construction', the vehicle can bey turned abruptly by theoperator, or-'whenfthe hands are removed from the steering bar 1T the vehicle is self-steering in a:` straight away direction.Y 4

A guard or fender 24 isfprovidedto prov` tect lthe propeller weedsl or other extraneous elements that may be encountered below the surface of the water.

All parts oflthe vehicle should be galvanized, enameled or otherwise treated" as a protection against the corrosive action' of the water.

An embodiment of the invention substan tially as shown, has beenreduced to practice, and has proved capable of supporting a rider operator, and performing satisfacto`` rily .the functions set forth.

What l claim and desire to secure by-Let-` ters Patent is:

1. A water vehicle comprising a float structure, a frame mounted equilaterally and depending fromvsaid float structure;` al

vertical stabilizing plane or fin rigidly'attachedl to said depending frame, a steering rod yhaving a hand steering member directly attached thereto, depending from the float structure and journaled in the frame forward of the stabilizing' plane, a rudder vanev attached directly to said steering rod, pedal crank driven coperating gears mounted on the dependingframe, and a longitudinal propeller mounted on the frame and driven by said gears.

2. In a waterI vehicle, the combination'of a float structure-'3 a frame mounted in said float structure and depending equilaterally therefrom, a `portion of said framebeing covered to form a verticallstabilizing plane or fin; a'fsa'ddle `connected with saidfframe above the float structure; coperating-bevel gears ymounted `on Athe said depending frame; apropellermounted on said frame; adapted to be driven by said bevel gears; pedal cranks for actuating the bevel gears; asteering rod having a hand steering membery rigidly connected therewith, journaled1forward in said frame; and a rearwardly'disposed rudder vane attached to said steeringV member.

94 'from entanglementwith'- 3. In a water vehicle, the combination of a float-structure including two longitudinally parallel pcnt'o'ons; a frame between saidwpontoons, attached thereto and dependingtherefrom, a portion of said frame being inclosed to form a vertical stabilizing plane or tin; a saddle connected with said frame above( the'. pontoons gncoperating mounted on said frame; a propeller mounted on the frame, adaptedto" bey drivenV by said bevel'v gears pedal operated cranlis` for' actuating the bevel 1 gears; a= steering member mounted forward i'n saiddrame between the bevel gears pontoonsyanda rearwardly` disposed rudi derf vaneattached to'lsaid steering member.

4.1 .Inf a water vehicle; thecombination lof a frame ofbicyele type construction, which includes aftriangularVportion lhaf'vingf ahorizontalimembery a f saddle; and propeller sup"` port, gear caseat th'ellowerf apex oflthe` triangularf portion, a steering membermounted the? head ofi the' frame; aff float structurecattached' to the :horizontal member ofy the-'- frame'. and! e'xtending` longitudinally one` bothv sides of:i said' frame;` af covering which'incloses the dependingftriangular por;

'tion of theiffrainegtlfereby forming a1vertical stabilizinglin; :coopera-ting bevel gears mounted in'` the gear.:` case; propeller mounted 1 on the franief'=and' adapted. to be driven by said gearsg. andy a'l rudder vane attached to the lsteering?member below'Y the float structure?- and"l forward relation to the stabilizing. iin'.

5; In s a water vehicle, the ycom'bination of aframe structure including" arv triangular portion having; a' i horizontal top1membery y a gear@ case`r at the lower apex off theg triangle, a downward extending; rear# frame member, and a head member';fponto'ons`= rigi'dlyat; tached to' the-1 horizontal-i member of the frame. andV extending-l horizontally' parallel and iequilaterallylto'said:frame-'g af' propeller shaft mounted in'ibearings ori-therear framemember and the triangular memberglal'pr'oL peller` carried byfsaid shaft g f a-Hbevel fpi-on onisad shaft; a bevelflgear mountedA inJ the gearvcase,y in niesh.withl thei'piniorr on the propeller shaft; the 4said' f bevell agear.; .au filler `member inr-thef triangular 'portion of thef frame; steering? forli` mounted inuthe head'Y off the frame' and dependingi` therefrom; means-1 forfmanually oscillating-l I said' steering fork a'f rearwardly disposed rudder vane attached to said fork; p

6'.'` In "a" waterfvehicle, the lcombiai'ation"aof' a; frame structuret inclu'dinigl'k al triangular portion .havingVV a horizontal. top" member,` f a gearcase" at Ath'eflow'erl` apex fof the triangle; a I.downward extending rear framemember, and a' head' member; :pontoons rigidly at tached to the' horizontal member of `v the' frame and extending horizontally parallel .pedali cran'iks' for actuating shaft mounted in bearings on the rear frame ing fork mounted in the head of the frame member and the triangular frame member; and depending therefrom; means for man- 10 a propeller carried by said shaft; a bevel ually oscillating said steering fork; a rearpinion on said shaft; a bevel gear mounted Wardly disposed rudder vane attached to 5 in the gear case, in mesh with the pinion on said fork; and a fender for protecting the the propeller shaft; pedal cranks for actuatpropeller member. ing the said bevel gear; a filler member in In testimony whereof I aix my signature. 15

the triangular portlon of the frame; a steer- COBOL R. BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1D. G. 

